Thursday, 26 February 2015

27 February 2015

Collects

Prayers
developed from the daily readings

Friday 27
February 2015

Morning
Prayer

Psalm 140

This
psalm is an appeal to be delivered from personal enemies – from violent people
and those who stir things up, those who speak ill, are arrogant and make evil
plots. The psalmist is confident in God’s care.

Genesis 42: 1 – 17

Jacob learns that Egypt has surplus grain. He sends
his remaining sons except Benjamin, to Egypt. The have an audience with Joseph
who they do not recognise and bow before him. He deals with them harshly
accusing them of spying. He demands they return and bring Benjamin as proof of
their integrity.

Luke 12: 22 – 34

Jesus teaches about focusing on our relationship with
God and not focusing on stuff, possessions or the future, what will we wear or
what will we eat. He teaches generosity and gathering our spiritual wealth in
purses that will never wear out, since “where your treasure is, there your
heart will be also” (v.34).

Collect for
Morning Prayer

The Approaching StormMulwala NSW 2015L Osburn

Lord of all creation, you know the difficulties of human
life the enmities and struggles. Help us to put you first, to make sure we are
in right relationship with you. Help us discern the difference between enemies
and friends who are dealing with us harshly for a good purpose. Help us also to
be diligent, generous and calm serving as if we are serving you so that our
enemies have fewer objections and our friends see us grow through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord. Amen.

Friday 27 February
2015

Evening
Prayer

Psalms 141 and 142

Both
psalms are pleas to be delivered from personal enemies. The first includes a
willingness to be justly corrected by the righteous. The psalmist asks to be
assisted to not engage in retaliation of the evil so that the enemies realise
the psalmist is not only correct but also gentle.

In
the second psalm things are not going well for the psalmist and the pleas for
deliverance demonstrate faithfulness.

Jeremiah 27: 12 – 28: 4

Jeremiah has a yoke made and put on his back and neck.
He prophesies that all will be under the rule of Nebuchadrezzar and unless they
serve him they will perish. All the valuables left in the holy places will go
to Babylon. Another prophet Hananiah prophesies the opposite, that all will be
restored and returned to two years.

Hebrews 6: 9 – 18

There are two unchangeable things on which we can
anchor our hope: God’s promise and God’s oath.

Collect for
Evening Prayer

Great Australian BightSA 2014 L Osburn

O God your promise and your oath are reliable and
unchangeable. Help us understand how to correct, how to be gentle, how
deliverance through faithfulness works so that by your being in our lives we
can be your hands and arms throughout the earth and respond to the difficulties
humans encounter confident in your promise and your oath through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.